Abstract
AbstractFerrofluids are magnetic liquids known for the patterns they form in external magnetic fields. Typically, the patterns form at the interface between a ferrofluid and another immiscible non-magnetic fluid with a large interfacial tension γ ∼ 10−2 N m−1, leading to large pattern periodicities. Here we show that it is possible to reduce the interfacial tension several orders of magnitude down to ca. γ ∼ 10−6 N m−1 by using two immiscible aqueous phases based on spontaneous phase separation of dextran and polyethylene glycol and the asymmetric partitioning of superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles into the dextran-rich phase. The system exhibits classic Rosensweig instability in a uniform magnetic field with a periodicity of ∼200 μm, significantly lower than in traditional systems (∼10 mm). This system paves the way towards the science of pattern formation at the limit of vanishing interfacial tension and ferrofluid applications driven by small external magnetic fields.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Mechanics of Materials,General Materials Science
Cited by
15 articles.
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